Call-box.



H.O.RUGIV-I.

GALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13,1909.

1,095,358. Patented May 5, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.,WASHINGTON, 1:. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY 0. HUGE, or snnnwrcmrrrrivors, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE assremvrnntrs, T0 HALL svvrrcrr & SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

CALL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed November 13, 1909. Serial No. 527,857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY O. RUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illino-is, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Call-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, form ing a part of this specification.

My invention relates to call box mechanism, and is more particularly applicable for use in connection with substation signalreceiving devices of the step-by-step or impulse variety when a number of such stations are connected to the same line, thepresent invention contemplating novel means for the impulse sending mechanism which is used at the central station.

My impulse-sending mechanism is of particular utility in connection with the substation apparatus, for instance, of my copending application, Serial No. 478,088, filed February 15, 1909, Patent No. 956,7 82, issued May 3, 1910.

My invention more specifically is an improvement over my co-pending application #493,940 filed May 4, 1909, in which said co-pending application I broadly claim means for accomplishing the results as therein set forth, my present invention being more particularly directed to the improvement thereof by virtue of which the devices of my co-pending application are mechanically operated as distinguished from electrical operation. It is of special utility in impulse-sending mechanisms of this character to so arrange the mechanism that when the movable member is initially moved for calling a station, during such initial movement no impulses are sent over the line wires, whereas such impulses, corresponding to the movement of the member, are sent while the movable member is on its return stroke, which return movement is regulated by clockwork, thus to insure impulses of the proper regularity and at right time intervals.

I will explain my invention more in detail by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment thereof.

In this figure, I have shown two line Wires, 1 and 2, which are to extend to the various stations, at which impulse-receiving mechanism may be connected to these line conductors. I have shown a terminal block 3 to which the connections are brought, and which shows the line connections as connected to two of the binding posts thereat. All of the apparatus connected to the line wires 1 and 2 is designed for use at a central station. I have shown conductors 4 and 5, bridged from the line wires 1 and 2, which may be connected to a suitable operators telephone equipment for communication over said line wires when the proper station has been called.

A relay 6, acts to closethe line circuit through the main battery 7, and is operated by my improved call box. The relay 6 acts in the nature of a repeating relay tosend impulses to the line wires 1 and 2. These impulses may be of a given polarity,say, positive,and a secondary relay 8 is used, which, by means of a pole-changing switch 9, when actuated, reverses the polarity of the battery 7 as impressed on the line wires 1 and 2.

It is the object of my call device to suitably actuate relay 6 to send impulses of one character, and in conjunction with relay 8, when necessary, to send impulses of another character. 7 A battery 10 is utilized to operate the relays 6 and 8, as will be presently explained.

My improved call-box arrangement preferably consists of a wheel 11, which is rotatable, and which, in the embodiment shown, has holes 1212, suitably disposed about its periphery, by means of which said wheel 11 may be properly set to send a given number of impulses. A clock mechanism, which is only diagrammatically indicated by the wheel 13, tends to rotate the wheel 11 in a clockwise direction into the position shown in the figure. A handle 14, having a pin 15, is movable about its axis, and may be set so that its pin 15 will engage any one of the holes. When a call is to be initiated,

the handle is moved around to the corresponding hole 12, the pin 15 inserted therein, and the entire wheel 11 then rotated in a contra-clockwise direction until said pin 15 strikes an arm 16, which arm thereupon makes contact with a contact spring 17, and closes circuit between the rotatable impulse or contact member 18 to which the arm 16 is electrically connected and one terminal of the battery 10.

The handle 14 has a knob 25 which is adapted to be grasped by the fingers so that the said handle may be placed in position to associate the pin 15 with any one of the holes 12. After the pin has been inserted in the proper hole the knob 25 is actuated by the hand to rotate the wheel 11 until the pin 15 engages the lever 16, after which the clock mechanism 13 automatically rotates the wheel 11 and impulse'member 18 until the pin 21 engages the said lever 16 as will be further explained later. The manual devices which set the device in the proper position to automatically send the call might be suitably designated as a finger-hold.

During the contra-clockwise movement, it will be seen that no circuit is established, and therefore no impulses sent out from the impulse wheel 18, acting in conjunction with its impulse-sending spring 19, even though said spring is engaged during said contraclockwise rotation by the impulse wheel 18. The handle 14 upon reaching its limiting forward position, however, as when it actua-tes the arm 16, is released by the operator, and the clock mechanism 13 rotates the wheel 11, which is firmly attached to the impulse wheel 18 in a clockwise direction, and spring 19 alternately contacts with the teeth of the wheel 18, thereby establishing impulses in the relay, which are relayed to the line wires 1 and 2.

It will be seen that in the particular construction shown, the impulse wheel 18 makes a number of comparatively short impulses by its teeth touching the spring 19, and then finally keeps the circuit closed a comparatively long period of time, during which said wheel 18, through its portion 20, remains in contact for a comparatively long period of time with the spring 19. When the wheel 11 reaches its limiting backward position the spring 19 has left the wheel 18 for a period of time, and this limiting position is governed by a pin 21, fastened to the wheel 11, which operates against the lever 16, and moves it out of engagement with the spring 17. The means for thus sending the impulses on the return stroke are entirely mechanical in their nature, and very simple, as will be seen. After the spring 19 has let the section 20, a protrusion 22 causes contact springs 23 and 2 1 to engage either of the other, this taking place before the pin 21 has reached the lever 16. The engagement of these contacts completes a circuit through the relay 8 to send an impulse of a different character over the line wires 1 and 2. The circuit of the relay 6 will be open at the spring 19 at this time. The simplicity of the means for thus making the required circuit connections will be apparent, and while I have described in detail its preferred form, 1 do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement so described.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal sending device having a movable member for sending impulses, and means for rendering the impulse sending mechanism operative and inoperative, said means comprising a pivotally mounted switching element and means associated with said movable member to operate said element mechanically, both upon reaching the limit of its movement in one direction and upon reaching the limit of its movement in the opposite direction.

2. In a signal sending device, a movable member having call sending means, a fingerhold relatively movable with respect to said member and having provision to engage the same in dilferent selected positions for selectively setting said member in position to send a call for a predetermined station, a movable switch element, means carried by said member to move said element, and means under the control of the lingerhold to move said element.

3. In a selective call mechanism, the combination of a rotatable impulse-sending member, means for setting said member to send a call, a normally open circuit in which said impulses are produced, controlled by said member and adapted to be mechanically closed by said setting means upon reaching the limit of its setting movement, said movement being different for each call and equal in both directions, and means for mechanically opening said circuit when said member returns to normal position.

4t. In a selective call mechanism, the combination of atoothed wheel adapted to be moved an equal distance in opposite directions to send a call, said distance being different for each call, a fingerhold for moving said wheel in one direction, a normally open switch adapted to be mechanically closed by said fingerhold and to limit the forward movement of said wheel and means for opening said switch when said wheel returns to normal.

5. In a selective call mechanism, the combination of a rotatable contact member, said member having long and short teeth and be ing adapted to be moved an equal distance in two directions, means for moving said member to diilerent positions, each posit-ion corresponding to a call, a spring contact cooperating with said member, a circuit, the terminals of which are constituted, one by the teeth of said member, and the other by said contact, whereby said circuit is closed when said contact engages said teeth, and a my name this fourth day of October 1)., switch in said circuit adapted to be me- 1909. chanically closed when said member is moved in one direction and mechanically HARRY RUGH' opened When said member is moved in the Witnesses: opposite direction. MAX W. ZABEL,

In Witness whereof, Ihereunto subscribe O. M. WERMICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

